After Deadly Earthquake Last Week, Another Strong Earthquake Strikes Indonesia; The Death Toll Continues

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At least three people were killed when a magnitude 7.0 earthquake rocked the Indonesian island of Lombok and nearby Bali, sending terrified residents and tourists running into the streets and triggering a tsunami warning on August 5, 2018.

Map of the epicenter of the M6.9 earthquake off Lombok and Bali in Indonesia: 3km SSE of Loloan, Indonesia. via USGS

Najmul Akhyar, district chief of North Lombok, told reporters that a power blackout made it impossible to immediately assess the full extent of the damage. But the death toll was at least three, he said.

A search and rescue official told the Agence France-Presse news agency the toll could rise to 19 or more. Social media posts from the scene showed debris scattered on streets and sidewalks.

Damage and destruction after M6.9 earthquake hit Bali and Lombok on August 5, 2018. via Instagram

This video was captured by a surveillance camera in a Mosquee somewhere in Bali, Indonesia just as the strong earthquake hit the nearby island Lombok:

Hospital patients, many still in their beds, were rolled out onto streets as a safeguard against structural damage to the hospital buildings.

Damage and destruction after M6.9 earthquake hit Bali and Lombok on August 5, 2018. via Facebook

“Back in the house now. That was an attention getter,” tweeted @Bali_chris. “Strongest quake we’ve felt in the 13 years we’ve been here. Much stronger than the last one in Lombok that we felt in Bali. Hope everyone in Lombok is safe.”

Damage and destruction after M6.9 earthquake hit Bali and Lombok on August 5, 2018. via Facebook

Lombok, about 50 miles east of Bali, was rocked by a magnitude 6.4 quake less than a week ago that killed 16 people. That quake injured more than 150 people, damaged thousands of homes and cut off power to many more.

Damage and destruction after M6.9 earthquake hit Bali and Lombok on August 5, 2018. via Instagram

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency for Indonesia had reported scores of aftershocks in the hours after last week’s quake – and had warned that another major quake could be imminent.

Damage and destruction after M6.9 earthquake hit Bali and Lombok on August 5, 2018. via Instagram

The agency issued a tsunami warning after Sunday’s temblor, but withdrew the warning a short time later.

Tsunami warning for Lombok and Bali in Indonesia after a strong M6.9 earthquake hit off Lombok on August 5 2018. via Twitter

Iwan Asmara, an official from the local Disaster Mitigation Agency, said panicked residents and tourists ran from their homes and hotels to move to higher ground. Model Chrissy Teigen, vacationing in Bali with husband John Legend and their children, said she fled to the streets.

Damage and destruction after M6.9 earthquake hit Bali and Lombok on August 5, 2018. via Instagram

“oh my god. Bali. trembling. So long,” Teigen tweeted. “Oh man. We are on stilts. It felt like a ride. 15 solid seconds.”

Minutes later Teigen tweeted: “im either still trembling or these little quakes won’t stop IM TRYING TO BE NORMAL HERE”

Damage and destruction after M6.9 earthquake hit Bali and Lombok on August 5, 2018. via Facebook

British singer-songwriter Gary Barlow was on Lombok when the quake hit.

Damage and destruction after M6.9 earthquake hit Bali and Lombok on August 5, 2018. via Facebook

The quake struck at 6:46 p.m. local time Sunday with an epicenter located 12 miles south-west of East Lombok. Lombok is known for its beaches, surfing, diving and snorkeling and is home to a sea turtle hatchery.

Indonesia, made up of thousands of islands, has a population of more than 260 million people. The archipelago is part of the Ring of Fire, an area in the Pacific known for volcanic activity and earthquakes.